This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
On October 1, 2019, a multi-agency security team conducted a raid in Mombasa, resulting in the killing of three suspected militants. The operation led to the arrest of two terror suspects, Bakari Chibonja and Athuman Nyae, who had planned to attack key government installations during the Mashujaa Day celebrations.
According to intelligence obtained by detectives, the Somali-based militants had deployed Chibonja and Nyae, along with their accomplices, to attack government installations on October 20. The suspects were believed to be members of the Al-Shabaab terrorism group with a wide network of followers.
Anti-Terror Police Unit investigator Dickson Indaru stated in an affidavit that Chibonja was under police radar in the anti-terrorism police database and had earlier featured in a terrorism-related incident in Mombasa. Indaru further alleged that the two suspects had committed numerous other terrorist acts and harbored militants who had attacked the country in the past.
State Counsel Erick Masila described the weapons recovered from the suspects' residence as 'weapons of mass destruction.' Chibonja and Nyae have pleaded not guilty to three terror-related charges, including harbouring terrorists and being members of the militant group.
The charge sheet alleged that the suspects had harbored Swaleh Yusuf, Abdalla, Salama Salim Mohamed, and Mkubwa Sadi Ramadhan, who were all dead, knowing that they were intending to commit a terrorist act. The suspects were further accused of giving support for the commission of a terrorist act.
On October 22, 2019, the case was mentioned in court, with the next hearing scheduled for November 11, 2019.
